Organic compounds

ABSTRACT

A process of converting a carbon-carbon multiple bond to a cyclopropane ring, comprising the addition of a N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound to a mixture of alkene precursor, aqueous base and Pd(II)-catalyst, with the N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound obtained directly from an alkyl amine derivative, NaNO 2  and an acid via phase separation of the N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound from the aqueous phase.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. Ser. No.15/031,158, having a 371(c) date of Apr. 21, 2016, which is a nationalstage application of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/072882filed Oct. 24, 2013, which claims priority from Great BritainApplication No. 1318886.7 filed on Oct. 25, 2013, which applications areincorporated herein by reference.

This disclosure relates to a novel process of ring formation acrosscarbon carbon multiple bonds, and in particular cyclopropanation ofalkenes. The invention also relates to compounds formed by this processand their use as intermediates in the preparation of useful ingredientssuch as flavor and fragrance ingredients.

Cyclopropanation, the conversion of a carbon-carbon double bond to acyclopropane ring, is a chemical transformation used commonly in thesynthesis of organic chemical compounds, in particular in thepharmaceutical, agrochemical, and flavors and fragrances industries.Cyclopropanation on a laboratory scale is commonly performed with theaid of diazo compounds, for example, diazomethane (DAM) formethylenation reactions, and transition metal catalysts typicallycomprising copper or palladium complexes. On a larger, preparative scalerelevant to production of commercially-significant quantities ofcyclopropanated compounds, diazo compounds are avoided because of safetyproblems associated with their instability with respect to explosion, aswell as their carcinogenicity. Another problem is that diazo compoundsare prepared from N-methyl-N-nitroso compounds (MNC's) with the generalformula R(N(NO)Me)_(x) such as N-methyl-N-nitroso-urea (MNU), which arethemselves more or less toxic. Ideally, preparation and handling ofthese compounds should be carried out without exposure of any personsinvolved in the production process, which is presently difficult torealize due to necessary process operations.

Attempts have been made to avoid the isolation of MNC's as well as DAM,or to facilitate their handling and use, at least.

The substitution of MNU by N-nitroso compounds of lower acute toxicitysuch as N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide (Diazald™) is well knownto chemists (T. H. Black, Aldrichimica Acta 16, 3-9, 1983 and referencestherein). Diazomethane has been generated from Diazald™ in a membraneflow reactor and used for the cyclopropanation of alkenes (O. Kappe etal., Org. Lett. 15, 5590, 2013), however, synthesis and use of Diazald™requires transportation of the solid compound. Although Diazald™ is lesshazardous than MNU, it is still carcinogenic and skin sensitizing (A.Stark et al. OPRD 13, 1014, 2009) and is a self-reacting solid that canundergo explosions by shock, friction, heating and other sources ofignition (P. Woehl, M. Maggini, OPRD 16, 1146, 2012). Transportation anddissolution of solid Diazald™ is also economically not desired due toits high molecular weight.

Nefedov et al. (Mendelev Communications 1, 13-15, 1992) have added solidMNU to biphasic mixtures of alkene substrates in methylene chloride ordiethyl ether solution, and concentrated aqueous KOH containingpalladium-catalysts at 10-20° C. This has the advantage thatdiazomethane (bp −23° C.) is generated in situ in the reaction mixtureand reacts with a reactive alkene substrate before it evaporates. Thedisadvantage, however, is the isolation, storage and handling of solidMNU, which is problematic for reasons set forth above. Furthermore theaddition of hazardous solids to reaction mixtures requires the use ofspecial addition devices, which adds to processing complexity and costs.

Aerojet (U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,405) has claimed a process comprisinggeneration of MNU in organic solvent (a,b), separation of this organicphase from a first aqueous phase (c), contacting the separated organicphase with aqueous inorganic base (d,e) and separation of the thusobtained DAM-containing organic phase from the second aqueous phase (f).Although this process avoids isolation of MNU in solid form, theDAM-containing phase still has to be separated (f) and transported intoa reactor where DAM is converted to less harmful products. At thisstage, the operators transporting the DAM-containing phase are exposedto the known hazards of this compound.

Loebbecke et al. (IchemE Symposium Series No. 153, 1-6, 2007) haveaddressed this problem by adding MNU, alkene substrate and Pd(acac)₂catalyst in t-butyl methyl ether, diethyl ether or THF to aqueous KOH ina microreactor. Styrene was quantitatively cyclopropanated using thisprocedure. However, the problem of isolation, handling and dissolvingMNU in the solvent was not mentioned by these authors. Also, MNU israther insoluble in t-butyl methyl ether or diethyl ether (in our handsdown to 3% w/w). Accordingly, large quantities of these solvents wouldbe needed to process low quantities of MNU through microreactorsrendering the process virtually impractical on large preparative scales.

Woehl and Maggini (OPRD 16, 1146, 2012) describe a flow reaction inwhich MNU 0.5 M in diethyl ether/diethylenglycol (DEG) 1:1 (feed a) ismixed with aqueous KOH (feed b). The thus-produced diazomethane (DAM) isthen mixed with excess benzoic acid in ethanol (feed c) toquantitatively convert diazomethane to methylbenzoate. This is aninteresting approach, but solid MNU has to be isolated, transported anddissolved in a solvent to provide feed a.

The prior art does not describe processes comprising the synthesis ofN-methyl-N-nitroso compounds (MNC's) in organic liquid, and theirsubsequent reaction with aqueous base in the presence of unsaturatedsubstrates to yield cyclopropanes via in-situ-generated diazomethane. Aperson skilled in the art is expecting difficulties with such a process,because the MNC is used as unpurified crude and the diazomethane is notseparated at all, with the consequence that unreacted starting materialsand byproducts such as amines are carried into the cyclopropanationvessel where they could decrease or block the catalyst or decrease itsactivity in the cyclopropanation reaction. Surprisingly, the applicanthas found that exactly such a sequential arrangement of steps resultedin a highly efficient cyclopropanation of unsaturated substrates,especially terminal alkenes.

In case of MNU, for example, its synthesis in situ or in liquid phaseand its conversion to diazomethane is attractive for subsequentcyclopropanation reactions, especially under industrial conditions. Ifprepared from abundantly available urea, methylamine and NaNO₂, MNUcould be simply converted to ammonium chloride, cyanate, nitrogen andthe desired cyclopropanated compound after exposure to base, unsaturatedsubstrate and catalyst. Such a process should produce relatively lowamounts of waste materials, provided MNU could be synthesized, worked-upand introduced safely into a cyclopropanation reactor.

The prior art, however, is devoid of any teaching regarding thecombination of synthesis and work-up procedures, which is concerned withliquid phase production and safe transfer of MNU into a reactor tomediate in the cyclopropanation of an alkene. On the contrary, the priorart teaches the preparation of MNU in aqueous acidic mixtures, fromwhich it precipitates and is collected by filtration (as described forexample in Organikum, VEB Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, Berlin1986, page 540).

In contradistinction to Nefedov et al (vide infra), applicant has foundin a surprising manner that cyclopropanation of alkenes, and inparticular terminal alkenes, proceeds readily without organic solvent,or only negligible amounts of organic solvent, for the alkene substrate.By “negligible amounts” is meant, less than 100 weight equivalents ofsolvent/catalyst, more particularly less than 50 weight equivalents ofsolvent/catalyst, still more particularly less than 25 weightequivalents of solvent/catalyst or no solvent/catalyst.

In particular, applicant found that when solid MNU was addedportion-wise to a stirred mixture of catalyst, terminal alkene (withoutorganic solvent) and aqueous KOH at 5° C., cyclopropanation of theterminal alkene took place efficiently.

This surprising finding renders it possible to industrializeMNU-mediated chemistry to effect ring formation across carbon-carbonmultiple bonds, and in particular to cyclopropanate alkenes, and moreparticularly to cyclopropanate terminal alkenes. The discovery thatdissolving an alkene substrate in an organic solvent was not criticalfor efficient cyclopropanation to occur, enabled the applicant toutilize solvent (that would otherwise be used to dissolve the alkenesubstrate) as a medium in which to dissolve MNU and to transfer itcleanly and safely into a reaction flask containing the alkenesubstrate. In this manner, it was possible to avoid handling of thesolid toxic solid material.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a process of ringformation across a carbon-carbon multiple bond, the process comprisingthe steps of reacting a N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound in liquid phase witha substrate bearing a carbon-carbon multiple bond, wherein theN-alkyl-N-nitroso compound is generated in liquid form or in an organicphase, which has been separated from an aqueous phase, and the organicphase is added to the unsaturated substrate.

The process of the present invention is useful to convert an alkene oran alkyne to a cyclopropane ring or a cyclopropene ring respectively.Beside N-methyl-N-nitroso compounds (MNC's), one can employ otherN-alkyl-N-nitroso compounds, wherein the alkyl group is ethyl, or higheralkyl groups such as propyl, butyl or higher alkyl groups, which may belinear or branched and may be substituted or unsubstituted, such asN-ethyl-N-nitroso urea, N-butyl-N-nitroso urea,4-(ethylnitrosoamino)-4-methyl-2 pentanone (CAS 5569-45-9) orN-nitroso-N-2-propyn-1-yl-acetamid (CAS 90927-84-7). In order toillustrate the invention however, in the remainder of the specification,reference will mainly be made to MNC's and to reactions concerned withthe methylenation of alkenes.

In general, the N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound is generated in-situ or inliquid phase from a mixture of an HNRR′ compound, water, NaNO₂ and anacid. The MNC's are generated in liquid phase from an aqueous mixturecomprising a methyl amine or a derivative of a methylamine, NaNO₂, andan acid. An organic solvent can be added to the MNC once it is formed tofacilitate phase separation. In particular, MNU may be generated inliquid phase from an aqueous mixture comprising methylurea, NaNO₂, andan acid. Alternatively, instead of using methylurea, one can generatethis using methylamine or its salts, and urea.

Once the MNC is formed, it partitions into the organic solvent providedfor that purpose. A biphasic mixture is formed, and the organic phasecan be separated from the aqueous phase in a phase separation step.Thereafter, the organic phase containing the MNC is added to an alkenesubstrate, without having first to isolate the MNC in pure form. As theMNC is in an organic solvent, it can be cleanly and simply transferredinto a reaction vessel containing the alkene substrate.

Suitable N-Methyl-N-nitroso compounds (MNC's) in organic liquid phaseare such which can be easily prepared as such from inexpensivecomponents and comprise preferably but not limiting MNC's such asN-methyl-N-nitroso urea (MNU), ethyl N-Methyl-N-nitroso urethane(nitroso-EMU) or N-nitroso-β-methylaminoisobutyl methyl ketone (NMK).

The term “N-methyl-N-nitroso compound generated in organic liquid phase”includes the generation of N-alkyl-N-nitroso compounds as organic liquidphase, such as nitroso-EMU or NMK. Alternatively, a N-alkyl-N-nitrosocompound, which can exist in solid form, can be dissolved in an organicliquid phase.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention there is provided aprocess of converting a carbon-carbon double bond to a cyclopropanering, comprising the steps of:

-   I) generation of the MNC in a biphasic mixture,-   II) separation of the organic MNC-containing liquid phase from an    aqueous phase and-   III) transferring the organic MNC-containing liquid phase into a    mixture comprising an alkene substrate, aqueous base and catalyst,    thereby to cyclopropanate the alkene substrate.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the MNC in organic liquidphase is of lower density than the aqueous phase in order that it willfloat above the aqueous phase and allow the lower aqueous phase to beremoved efficiently under gravity in a phase separation step. Theaddition of solvent or solvent mixtures can enhance this effect.

Suitable solvents for phase separation are polar ethers such astetrahydrofurane (THF), 2-methyl-tetrahydrofurane (MeTHF),dimethoxyethane (DME), dimethylisosorbide (DMIS), dioxane, or mixturesof these ethers with other co-solvents, which will still allow phaseseparation to occur between the aqueous phase and the organic phase.

Although ethers are particularly suitable organic solvents for phaseseparation, also other solvents can be employed, particularly toluene incase of nitroso-EMU or amide-type solvents such asN-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) in case of MNU. However, solutions of MNUin N-alkylpyrrolidones or similar amide solvents are inherently unstabledue to the basic properties of these solvents. Indeed, MNU willdecompose in basic solvents to diazomethane. If these solvents are to beemployed, they are best employed in reactions in which a high stationaryinventory of MNU in solvent is not generated. For example, the amidesolvents can be particularly effective for use in flow chemistry,wherein only very small amounts of MNU in solvent is formed before it isimmediately consumed by reacting with an alkene substrate.

The process described herein carried out under flow conditions in a flowreactor represents a further aspect of this invention.

Whereas, it is in particular known in the art to produce MNU from NaNO₂,methylamine, urea and an acid (e.g. in the presence of concentratedsulphuric acid), the reaction is carried out expressly to form MNU as asolid and to isolate it from the liquid phase by filtration. Incontradistinction, the means by which MNU is isolated in the presentinvention is by phase separation into a suitable organic solvent. Phaseseparation is effected when a suitable organic solvent is added to theaqueous phase. The organic solvent may be introduced either before orafter addition of the acid (e.g. sulphuric acid), although addition ofthe organic solvent before acidification avoids the possibility of anyprecipitation of solid MNU, which would have to be subsequentlydissolved.

Considering that the organic solvent has to be polar in order to promotethe partitioning of MNU into the organic phase, it was surprising that agood separation between the organic and aqueous layers could beachieved. Good separation is important if the phase separation step isto be carried out efficiently and with the assurance that significantamounts of MNU are not left in the aqueous phase, which is collected aswaste. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment salts are added to thebiphasic mixture before phase separation is undertaken. Inorganic andorganic salts or salt mixtures may be added to enhance phase separationand extraction of MNU into the organic phase. Furthermore, water,organic solvents and ionic liquids may be added to avoid undesiredprecipitation of the reaction components during processing.

MNU is readily obtained from stoichiometric amounts of methylaminehydrochloride, urea, NaNO₂ and sulphuric acid, or any other organic orinorganic acid and mixtures of acids. These compounds may be mixed indifferent ratios but ideally between 1:1:1:<1 and 3:3:1:<1. For thepurpose of ease of subsequent phase separation and cyclopropanation theratio may be more particularly 2:2:1:<1.

In an alternative embodiment, when instead of employing methylaminehydrochloride and urea, one uses directly methylurea, the ratio of alkylurea, NaNO₂ and sulphuric acid may be between 1:1:<1 and 3:3:<1. For thepurpose of ease of subsequent phase separation and cyclopropanation theratio may be more particularly 2:2:<1.

A variety of transition metal catalysts can be employed in a processaccording to the present invention, although palladium catalysts areparticularly useful. Examples of suitable catalysts are described byNefedov et al. in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya 8,1861-1869 (1989). Palladium catalysts, e.g. Pd(acac)₂, Pd(OAc)₂ or PdCl₂are particularly useful when ethylene and mono- or disubstituted alkenesubstrates are to be cyclopropanated. The mono- or di-substituted alkenesubstrates may be substituted with any desirable substituents, includingbut not limited to alkyl or aryl (both of which may be substituted,branched or strained, and include heteroatoms such as nitrogen, oxygen,sulphur or boron) or a carbonyl group (such as in esters, ketones oraldehydes).

The amount of catalyst employed in a process according to the presentinvention may be less than 0.5%, 0.1 mol %, less than 0.05 mol % andpreferably 0.02 mol % or less. Thus in a particular embodiment of thisinvention Pd-catalysts are used in lower amounts than in the prior art,which describes lowest amounts of 0.06 mol % Pd(P(OMe)₃)₄ for the insitu cyclopropanation of a strained alkene (Nefedov, vide supra 1992).

The fact that the applicant was able to carry out a highly efficienttransition metal catalysed cyclopropanation was surprising. A potentialproblem of using MNC's isolated by phase separation from an aqueouslayer is that impurities such as amines or inorganic salts may becarried over into the organic phase and into the cyclopropanation vesselcontaining alkene substrate and transitional metal catalyst. However,whereas it is well known that such impurities can impair the efficiencyof transition metal catalyzed reactions, as pointed out by Nefedov (videsupra, 1989) for example, applicant did not encounter any impairment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a specific embodiment thatillustrates the process according to the invention.

In a first reaction vessel MNU-precursor I is formed from a mixture ofNaNO₂, methyl amine and urea in an aqueous medium. An organic solvent isadded to this aqueous phase and the whole is pumped onto concentratedacid in a second vessel where after elimination of water, MNU is formed.Alternatively the organic solvent can be added at this stage. Phaseseparation is carried out in the same vessel (2). The lower aqueous saltsolution phase is drained off to waste, whereas the upper organic layercontaining the generated MNU is pumped into a third vessel containingthe alkene substrate, aqueous basic phase and catalyst. Thecyclopropanation reaction proceeds as the two phases are mixed withvigorous stirring, and after the reaction is complete the organic phasecontaining the cyclopropanated alkene is recovered.

As the acid quench of MNU precursor I in vessel 2 is highly exothermicand the cyclopropanation in vessel 3 is also temperature sensitive,cooling is preferably used for these two steps. In a first aspect,uncontrolled decomposition of MNU needs to be avoided, which might occurabove 20° C. and produces methyl isocyanate (MIC). Furthermore, thecyclopropanation is preferably carried out at lower temperature, toavoid release of the low-boiling diazomethane (bp=−23° C.) into theatmosphere and/or dimerization of this reagent to ethylene and nitrogen,which decreases the efficiency of the cyclopropanation step. Both stepsare therefore preferably carried out under cooling, e.g. at −20 to +10°C., more preferably around 0° C. These temperatures are neverthelesseasily maintained and controlled by the addition rate of MNU precursor Ito the acid (step 1) or the addition rate of MNU to the alkenesubstrate. In flow reactors it should be possible to use higher reactiontemperatures.

This set up is relatively non-complex and has the considerable advantagethat it avoids separation and handling of solid MNU and reduces humanexposure to MNU and diazomethane to a minimum as MNU is generated onlyin vessel 2 and destroyed (by cyclopropanation) in vessel 3. Furthermoresome steps of the reaction sequence can be run in flow reactors, e.g.the MNU generation step (vessel 2), and the phase separation step can beautomatized.

As in case of the cyclopropanation reaction with MNU any unreacteddiazomethane (DAM) can be quenched after the reaction is complete, bythe addition of a sacrificial alkene with high reactivity (such asethylene, styrene, limonene, myrcene or farnesene) or alternatively oradditionally, acetic acid or other carboxylic acids, which in thepresence of a strong base will decompose any diazomethane by methylationof the acid.

It is preferred that the MNC immediately and completely reacts to DAM,and that DAM immediately and completely reacts with the unsaturatedsubstrate in the reaction mixture, and that these compounds (MNC and/orDAM) are not detectable during and after complete addition of the MNC(in vessel 3). It is therefore preferred that the stationaryconcentration of both compounds (MNC and/or DAM) is kept at <10%, <5%,<1%, <0.1% and ideally at 0% versus alkene substrate and cyclopropanatedproduct in the reaction mixture. Such a low or close to zeroconcentration of MNC or DAM (in vessel 3) prevents release of MNC intothe environment in case of a reactor damage and thus prevents a spill ofa toxic reaction mass. It also prevents release of DAM from the reactionmixture into the headspace of vessel 3 and beyond the confinements ofthe reactor. In particular, in case of MNU, a low or close to zeroconcentration of DAM also prevents the formation of other hazardousproducts, e.g. methylation of the waste product potassium isocyanate togive the highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC).

To avoid a stationary concentration of MNC and/or DAM the skilledchemist will adjust the reaction parameters as described above, namelycatalyst concentration, temperature and MNC/alkenesubstrate/cyclopropanated product ratios. It may be of advantage to adda sacrificial alkene with slightly lower reactivity than the targetalkene. This sacrificial alkene can be covalently attached to the targetalkene (as in any polyene). Alternatively, substoichiometric amounts ofMNC versus the alkene substrate may be used. Thus, MNC would becompletely consumed and DAM formation would be stopped before the targetalkene is completely cyclopropanated. The skillful combination ofreaction parameters and ratios of catalysts and reactants guarantee aclose to zero stationary concentration of MNC and/or DAM during andafter complete MNC addition.

The process according to the present invention can be used tocyclopropanate all mono- and disubstituted alkene substrates as well asethylene. Preferred, however, are terminal (monosubstituted) alkenes,i.e. those alkenes wherein R² is H. R¹ may be an alkyl, alkylidene, oraryl, which may be branched or unbranched and substituted orunsubstituted. Other preferred alkenes are exo-methylene compounds (i.e.those in which R¹ and R²=alkyl, alkylidene or aryl, which may bebranched or unbranched and substituted or unsubstituted).

In terminal non-activated isoprenes, wherein R³ is alkyl, alkylidene, oraryl, which may be branched or unbranched and substituted orunsubstituted, first the terminal and then the exo-methylene double bondwill react.

Terminal isoprenoid compounds, with one or more trisubstituted doublebonds in the substituent R³, are cyclopropanated with high selectivityat the monosubstituted double bond or are double-cyclopropanated at theterminal isoprene unit depending on the reaction conditions. Thisprovides a selective access to mono- or bis-cyclopropanated Myrcene,Farnesene or higher polyprenoid derivatives. Especially thevinylcyclopropanes (monocyclopropanated) are valuable intermediates forfurther transformations e.g. to flavor & fragrance compounds or theirprecursors, e.g. pseudo-Georgywood.

In another aspect of the present invention there are providedcyclopropanated isoprenes according to the formula IIIa

in which n=0, 1, 2 or 3.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention there is provided acyclopropanated isoprene, myrcene, or farnesene. Depending on the E/Z-and α,β-purity of the polyprene, different double bond isomers or isomermixtures II can be used as starting material giving aftercyclopropanation

In a particular embodiment of the present invention there are providedmono- or bis-cyclopropanated myrcenes of the formulae 1 or 2, or amono-cyclopropanated ocimene of the formula 3.

In another particular embodiment of the present invention there areprovided mono- or bis-cyclopropanated β-farnesenes of the formulae 4 or5, or a mono-cyclopropanated α-farnesene of the formula 6.

It is known from the literature that cyclopropanation of monosubstitutedalkenes is commonly performed with the aid of diazo compounds, such asdiazomethane (DAM) for methylenation, and transition metal catalysts,typically comprising palladium complexes. Useful information regardingthe transition-metal catalyzed selective methylenation of themonosubstituted double bond in polyenes such as II tomonocyclopropanated polyenes such as III, however, is scarce and limitedonly to precursor isoprene (n=0 in II and III).

Although the selectivities towards III (n=0) are relatively good, nohint was given how to improve selectivities and reaction conditionsfurther, e.g. using less catalyst and/or DAM generated in situ in thereaction vessel. The reaction was also not tested on higher polyenes II(with n≧1), probably because more complex mixtures were expected in caseof a higher degree of unsaturation. The selective methylenation ofpolyenes II (with n≧1) has not been reported so far. Compounds III withn≧1 are therefore either unknown, or have been synthesized by morecomplex routes. A simple access to such compounds (III, n≧1) isnevertheless strongly desired, due to the value of these products infurther reactions to useful fragrance compounds.

In another particular embodiment of the present invention there areprovided substituted meta- or para-substituted cyclopropylbenzenes ofthe general formula IV in which R′ is a branched or unbranched C₁-C₅alkyl radical with n=0, 1 or 2 located in the 1- and/or 2-position ofthe cyclopropane, and R″ is a C₃-C₁₀ radical, optionally substituted,unsaturated, which contains optionally one or more heteroatoms, carbonylgroups, imines, alcohols, acetals.

The substituted cyclopropylbenzenes IV can give, after appropriatechemical transformation and purification, as known to the skilledchemist, fragrance compounds of the floral and preferably of the Lillyof the Valley family.

The vinylcyclopropanes of the general formula V can be transformed byvinylcyclopropane rearrangement, known to the chemist skilled in theart, to useful precursors of known fragrance compounds, e.g. using theRh(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition of vinylcyclopropanes as described by P.Kraft in Synthesis, 695, 1999 and references therein. The cycloadditionproducts VI give after further transformation valuable fragranceproducts of the woody-amber family.

Application of this method to monocyclopropanated myrcene 1 for examplegives homomyrcene 10 and pseudo-Georgywood 12 which are both valuableprecursors of Georgywood™ depending on the exact reaction conditions.

Cyclopropanes generated by the method of the present invention can bealso used directly as fragrance compounds, e.g. without furtherderivatization, such as Δ-Myrcenol 13 and Δ₂-Myrcenol 14:

There now follows a series of examples that further act to illustratethe invention.

General Analytical Conditions:

Non-polar GC/MS: 50° C./2 min, 20° C./min 200° C., 35° C./min 270° C.GC/MS Agilent 5975C MSD with HP 7890A Series GC system. Non-polarcolumn: BPX5 from SGE, 5% phenyl 95% dimethylpolysiloxane 0.22 mm×0.25mm×12 m. Carrier Gas: Helium. Injector temperature: 230° C. Split 1:50.Flow: 1.0 ml/min. Transfer line: 250° C. MS-quadrupol: 106° C.MS-source: 230° C.

EXAMPLE 1

Preparation of MNU in THF

A solution of urea (175 g, 2.9 mol) and methylamine hydrochloride (198g, 2.9 mol) in water (400 ml) is heated at reflux (105° C.) for 3.5 hunder stirring. At 40° C. NaNO₂ (101 g, 1.45 mol) dissolved in water(200 ml) is added. After 15 min THF (1000 ml) is added which results ina transparent 2-phase mixture. Conc. H₂SO₄ (110 g, 1.1 mol) is added at0-5° C. and stirring within 1.5 h. After another 0.5 h at 0-5° C. thetwo transparent phases are separated at 25° C. The organic phase (A,1065 ml, theoretically 1.35 M) is stored for a few 25 days at 0-5° C. orforwarded immediately to the cyclopropanation reactor.

The water phase is extracted twice with THF (2×1 l). This gives 1100 mlof phase B and 1075 of phase C. Whereas phase A gives a 51% conversionof a terminal alkene to a cyclopropane in a subsequent cyclopropanationreaction, phase B gives <0.5% cyclopropane and phase C gives nodetectable conversion. We conclude that >99% MNU are extracted after thefirst phase separation. Usually the water phase is therefore discardedafter the first phase separation (from organic phase A) after treatmentwith conc. aqueous KOH and acetic acid.

EXAMPLE 2

Preparation of N-Nitroso-Dimethylurethane in Toluene

H₃PO₄ 50% in water (9.2 g, 48 mmol) is added to dimethylcarbamate (4.9g, 55 mmol) at 10-20° C. under stirring. To the colorless 2-phasemixture is added NaNO₂ 30% in water (20.1 g, 67 mmol) at 10-15° C. over1-1.5 h. Nitrous gases are formed at the end of the addition and theorange solution is stirred for 17 h at 25° C. Nitrogen is bubbledthrough the reaction mixture to expel remaining nitrous gases. Stirringis stopped and a sample is taken from the orange organic layer foranalytical analysis which shows a conversion of 88-92% according to GCMSand NMR. The reaction mixture is extracted twice with toluene (15 ml, 10ml) to give 30 ml of a clear light orange solution which is used as suchin the cyclopropanation step.

Analytical data of the organic layer before toluene addition: ¹H-NMR(CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 4.1 (s, 3H), 3.2 (s, 3H) ppm. ¹³C-NMR (CDCl₃, 400MHz): 154.2 (s), 54.9 (q), 28.0 (q) ppm. GC/MS: 118 (20%, M⁺), 87 (10%),59 (100%), 56 (20%), 43 (77%), 42 (26%), 30 (74%), 28 (21%).

EXAMPLE 3

Preparation of Nitroso-EMU

H₃PO₄ 50% in water (683 g, 3.44 mol) is added to ethyl methylcarbamate(412 g, 4 mol) at 10-20° C. under stirring (300 rpm). To the colorless2-phase mixture is added NaNO₂ 30% in water (1123 g, 4.9 mol) at 10-15°C. over 6 h. Nitrous gases are formed after 50% addition which areabsorbed in two washing bottles containing 10% (NH₄)₂SO₄ in water. Theorange solution is stirred for 17 h at 25° C. and is purged withnitrogen until the remaining nitrous gases are removed. Stirring isstopped and a sample is taken from the orange organic layer foranalytical analysis which shows a 76-82% conversion according to GCMSand NMR. The reaction mixture is extracted twice with toluene (2×1 l) togive 2.5 l of a clear light orange solution which is used as such in thecyclopropanation step. Analytical data of the organic layer beforetoluene addition: ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 4.55 (q, 2H), 3.2 (s, 3H),1.5 (t, 3H) ppm. ¹³C-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 153.8 (s), 64.5 (t), 28.0(q), 14.25 (q) ppm. GC/MS: 132 (6%, M⁺), 87 (10%), 60 (48%), 58 (20%),56 (14%), 43 (83%), 30 (56%), 29 (100%).

EXAMPLE 4

Preparation of Δ-Myrcene 1 and Δ₂-Myrcene 2

N-Methyl-N-nitroso urea 1.35 M in THF (810 ml, 1.1 mol, from example 1)is added at 0° C. to myrcene 94% tech. (100 g, 0.69 mol) and 40% aqueousKOH (300 ml) under strong stirring. After the addition of 20 ml MNU inTHF, palladium acetylacetonate (0.45 g, 0.2%) pre-dissolved indichloromethane (20 ml) is added. The remaining 790 ml MNU in THF areadded within 5.5 h at 0° C. After another 1.5 h at 0° C. completeconversion is detected by GC which shows 85% Δ-Myrcene and 11%Δ₂-Myrcene (rpa).

Acetic acid (300 ml) is added within 3 h at 0-5° C., then 2M HCl (500ml) at 25° C. After phase separation the water phase is extracted with2×400 ml tert-butyl methyl ether. The combined organic phases are washedwith 2×500 ml water, 500 ml 10% NaOH and 500 ml NaCl, are dried overMgSO₄, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. To theremaining yellow liquid (109 g) paraffin oil (20 g) and K₂CO₃ (0.5 g)are added. Distillation over a 30 cm steel coil column at 40-50 mbargives 1 g Myrcene (1% corr) at 75° C., 81.2 g Δ-Myrcene 1 (78% corr) at93-98° C. and 9.3 g Δ₂-Myrcene 2 (8% corr) at 95-105° C. The fractionsare pooled to give 70.5 g Δ-Myrcene of 100% purity and 5.3 g Δ₂-Myrceneof 87% purity.

Analytical data of Δ-Myrcene 1: ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 5.1 (m, 1H),4.6 (2H), 2.15 (2H), 2.0 (1H), 1.7 (s, 3H), 1.6 (s, 3H), 1.3 (1H), 0.6(2H), 0.4 (2H) ppm. ¹³C-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 150.9 (s), 135.5 (s),124.2 (d), 106.0 (t), 35.9 (t), 26.8 (t), 25.6 (q), 17.7 (q), 16.1 (d),6.95 (t) ppm. GC/MS: 150 (1%, M⁺), 135 (6%, [M-15]⁺), 121 (3%), 107(88%), 93 (11%), 91 (18%), 79 (62%), 77 (11%), 69 (82%), 67 (26%), 53(18%), 41 (100%). IR (film): 3081 (m), 3003 (w), 2968 (m), 2915 (m),2856 (m), 1642 (m), 1440 (m), 1376 (m), 1239 (w), 1211 (w), 1172 (w),1102 (m), 1047 (m), 1018 (m), 984 (w), 958 (w), 937 (w), 875 (s), 820(m), 627 (m). Anal. calcd. for C₁₁H₁₈: C, 87.93; H, 12.07. Found: C,87.22; H, 12.00.

Analytical data of Δ₂-Myrcene 2: ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 5.1 (m, 1H),2.15 (m, 2H), 1.7 (s, 3H), 1.6 (s, 3H), 1.35 (m, 2H), 1.15 (m, 1H), 0.3(2H), 0.1 (4H), −0.1 (m, 2H) ppm. ¹³C-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 130.9 (s),125.1 (d), 40.0 (t), 25.7 (q), 25.6 (t), 20.3 (s), 17.5 (q), 14.3 (d),9.2 (2C, t), 1.9 (2C, t) ppm. GC/MS: 149 (12%, [M-15]⁺), 136 (11%), 121(38%), 107 (17%), 95 (13%), 93 (46%), 91 (15%), 81 (17%), 79 (47%), 77(15%), 69 (100%), 67 (47%), 65 (10%), 55 (30%), 53 (23%), 41 (100%), 39(26%). IR (film): 3075 (m), 3002 (m), 2968 (m), 2914 (m), 2854 (m), 2730(w), 2053 (w), 1642 (w), 1450 (m), 1376 (m), 1244 (w), 1107 (m), 1097(m), 1045 (m), 1011 (s), 984 (w), 952 (m), 884 (m), 858 (w), 819 (m),742 (w), 665 (w), 631 (w).

EXAMPLE 5

Cyclopropanation of Myrcene with MNU in Various Solvents

equiv % β-E- % monocyclo- % biscyclo- run scale MNU solvent catalysttime Farnesene propane 1 propane 2  1 ^(a) 20 g  1.7 NMP ^(b) Pd(OAc)₂ 1h 4% 82% 10%  3 5 g 1.3 DME Pd(acac)₂ 2 h 7% 85% 7% 4 2 g 1.5 DMISPd(acac)₂ 2 h 7% 80% 6% 5 5 g 1.5 THF Pd(acac)₂ 2 h 8% 84% 7%Conditions: Addition of MNU in different solvents to Myrcene, 0.2%Pd(II)-catalyst and 40% aqueous KOH at 0-5° C. under stirring untilmaximum conversion of Myrcene to monocyclopropane 1 is reached. ^(a) 0.5equiv of internal standard tetradecane. ^(b) gas bubbles in MNU/NMPdropping funnel.

EXAMPLE 6

Cyclopropanation of Myrcene 1 with of N-Nitroso-Dimethylurethane

Pd(acac)₂ (5.6 mg, 0.05%) in toluene (1 ml) is added at 0-5° C. to astirred mixture of myrcene 85% tech. (5 g, 31 mmol) in toluene (25 ml)and 40% aqueous KOH (15 ml). N-Nitroso-dimethylurethane 1.8 M in toluene(30 ml, 55 mmol, from example 2) is added at 0-5° C. over 1 h. Thestrong yellow reaction mixture shows after 1 h at 0-5° C. a 87%conversion and after 18 h at room temperature a 96% conversion toΔ-Myrcene (77%) and Δ₂-Myrcene (7%) according to GC. The organic phaseis separated and the aqueous phase extracted with toluene (50 ml). Bothorganic phases are washed with acetic acid (25 ml), water (25 ml), 10%NaOH (25 ml) and water (3×25 ml). The organic phases are combined, driedover MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. Theremaining yellow oil (4.2 g) is bulb-to-bulb distilled at 100-120° C./20mbar giving 2.9 g (61%) of a product mixture containing 2% Myrcene, 84%Δ-Myrcene 1 and 8% Δ₂-Myrcene 2. The analytical data of these componentsare identical with the ones obtained in example 4.

EXAMPLE 7

Cyclopropanation of Myrcene 1 with N-Nitroso-β-MethylaminoisobutylMethyl Ketone (NMK)

Pd(acac)₂ (21 mg, 0.5%) is added at 0-5° C. to a stirred mixture offreshly distilled myrcene (2 g, 15 mmol) and 40% aqueous KOH (5 ml). NMK(4.6 g, 29 mmol), prepared as described in WO 2013110932, is addeddropwise at 0-5° C. within 0.5 h. After another hour at 0-5° C. thebrown suspension is stirred for another 2 h at 25° C. (87% conversionaccording to GC). After 21 h the mixture is quenched with acetic acid(10 ml) and the biphasic mixture is extracted with tert-butyl methylether (2×50 ml). The organic layers are washed with water (25 ml), 10%NaOH (25 ml) and water (25 ml). Both organic phases are combined, driedover MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. Theremaining yellow oil (4.1 g) is bulb-to-bulb distilled at 50-150° C./10mbar giving 1 g mesityl oxide (35%), 0.26 g myrcene (14%), 1.4 gΔ-Myrcene 1 (69%) and 0.07 g Δ₂-Myrcene 2 (3%). The analytical data ofthe main components are identical with the ones obtained in example 4.

EXAMPLE 8

Preparation of Δ-Ocimene 3 from Ocimene

Prepared as described in example 5 from MNU 1.35 M in THF (38 ml, 51mmol), E/Z-Ocimene (3 g, 22 mmol), 40% aqueous KOH (10 ml) and palladiumacetate (15 mg, 0.3%) pre-dissolved in THF (1.5 ml). After 1 h at 0° C.and 4 h at 25° C. GC shows 94% A-Ocimene and 6% Ocimene (rpa). Work-upgives 3.1 g of crude Δ-Ocimene 3 (E/Z 3:1) as crude yellowish oil.

Analytical data: ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 5.2 and 5.1 (2H), 2.85 and 2.7(1H, CH₂), 1.7 (1H), 1.7 (s, 3H), 1.65 (s, 3H), 1.55 and 1.4 (2 s, E/Z,3H), 0.45 (2H) ppm. ¹³C-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz, E-isomer and selectedsignals of the Z-isomer): 135.4 (s), 131.3 (s), 123.3 (d), 121.9 (d),27.0 (t), 25.7 (q), 25.675 (q), 18.7 (d), 17.7 (q), 13.8 (q), 4.2 (t)ppm. 26.6 (t, 2), 18.9 (q, Z), 4.0 (t, Z). GC/MS (E/Z overlap): 150(14%, M⁺), 135 (43%, [M-15]⁺), 121 (17%), 109 (16%), 107 (100%), 105(39%), 94 (17%), 93 (57%), 91 (67%), 82 (36%), 81 (40%), 79 (75%), 77(39%), 69 (22%), 67 (56%), 65 (15%), 55 (24%), 53 (27%), 41 (65%), 39(43%).

EXAMPLE 9

Preparation of E-Δ-Farnesene 4 and E-Δ₂-Farnesene 5 Using MNU in THF

N-Methyl-N-nitroso urea 1.35 M in THF (136 ml, 184 mmol) is addeddropwise at 0° C. to a rapidly stirred mixture of β-E-Farnesene (CAS18794-84-8) (25 g, 122 mmol) and aqueous KOH (50 ml, 40%) at 0-5° C.After the addition of 4 ml of the MNU solution, Pd(acac)₂ (7.4 mg, 0.024mmol, 0.02%) pre-dissolved in 0.5 ml dichloromethane is added. Theremaining MNU solution is added over 4 h at 0-5° C. A GC at this stageshowed 28% unconverted E-β-Farnesene, 65% monocyclopropane 4 and 3%biscyclopropane 5. After 16 h at 25° C. acetic acid (100 ml) is added at0-5° C., then tert-butyl methyl ether (250 ml). After phase separationthe organic phase is washed with 2M HCl (250 ml) and the aqueous phaseextracted with tert-butyl methyl ether (250 ml). The combined organiclayers are washed with water (2×100 ml), aqueous 10% NaOH (2×100 ml) andwater (2×100 ml), dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated to give26.9 g of a slightly yellow liquid which contains 9% E-β-Farnesene, 82%monocyclopropane 4 and 6% biscyclopropane 5.

EXAMPLE 10

Distillative Purification of E-Δ-Farnesene 4 and E-Δ₂-Farnesene 5Prepared from MNU in NMP

Under similar conditions as described in example 9, E-fi-Farnesene(193.4 g, 0.945 mol) is cyclopropanated in the presence of Pd(acac)₂(0.58 g, 1.9 mmol, 0.2%) pre-dissolved in dichloromethane (40 ml) and40% KOH (400 ml) with MNU (1.3 mol) in 800 ml NMP (under slight butconstant gas evolution in the MNU/NMP dropping funnel). Work-up gives aslightly yellow liquid (202 g) which contains 3% E-β-Farnesene, 75%monocyclopropane 4 and 12% biscyclopropane 5. Addition of 1 g K₂CO₃ (1g) and distillation over a 30 cm steel coil column at 40-60 mbar gives6.3 g E-β-Farnesene (3% corr) at 125-135° C., 147 g monocyclopropane 4(68% corr) at 135-145° C., 20.3 g biscyclopropane 5 (10% corr) at145-155° C. and 18 g of residue. The fractions are pooled to give 92 gmonocyclopropane 4 of 100% purity and 10 g biscyclopropane 5 of 93%purity as colorless liquids.

Analytical Data of E-Δ-Farnesene 4:

¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 5.1 (2 m, 2H), 4.6 (2H), 2.2 (2H), 2.1 (4H),2.0 (2H), 1.7 (s, 3H), 1.6 (2 s, 6H), 1.3 (1H), 0.6 (2H), 0.45 (2H) ppm.¹³C-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 150.9 (s), 135.1 (s), 131.2 (s), 124.4 (d),124.1 (d), 106.0 (t), 39.7 (t), 35.9 (t), 26.7 (t), 25.7 (q), 17.7 (q),16.0 (d), 6.0 (t) ppm. GC/MS: 218 (2%, M⁺), 203 (5%, [M-15]⁺), 175(11%), 147 (31%), 134 (15%), 133 (20%), 121 (12%), 107 (55%), 95 (16%),93 (30%), 91 (20%), 82 (11%), 81 (33%), 79 (42%), 69 (100%), 67 (22%),55 (20%), 53 (21%), 41 (75%). IR (film): 3081 (w), 2967 (m), 2915 (m),2854 (m), 1642 (m), 1439 (m), 1377 (m), 1107 (w), 1047 (w), 1018 (m),875 (s), 819 (m), 629 (w). Anal. calcd. for C₁₆H₂₆: C, 88.00; H, 12.00.

Found: C, 87.80; H, 12.01.

Analytical data of E-Δ₂-Farnesene 5:

¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 5.15 (2 m, 2H), 2.25 (m, 2H), 2.05 (m, 2H), 2.0(m, 2H), 1.7 (s, 3H), 1.65 (2 s, 6H), 1.4 (m, 2H), 1.05 (m, 1H), 0.3 (m,2H), 0.15 (4H), −0.05 (m, 2H) ppm. ¹³C-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 134.5 (s),131.2 (s), 124.9 (d), 124.4 (d), 40.0 (t), 39.7 (t), 26.7 (t), 25.7 (q),25.5 (t), 20.3 (s), 17.6 (q), 15.9 (q), 14.3 (d), 9.2 (2C, t), 1.9 (2C,t) ppm. GC/MS: 232 (0.2%, M⁺), 217 (3%, [M-15]⁺), 204 (4%), 189 (10%),161 (8%), 147 (12%), 121 (22%), 107 (20%), 95 (27%), 93 (31%), 91 (13%),81 (42%), 79 (30%), 69 (100%), 67 (33%), 55 (24%), 53 (16%), 41 (67%).IR (film): 3075 (w), 3001 (w), 2967 (m), 2913 (m), 2849 (m), 1669 (w),1448 (m), 1377 (m), 1107 (m), 1045 (m), 1011 (s), 984 (w), 952 (w), 884(w), 819 (m), 740 (w), 664 (w). Anal. calcd. for C₁₇H₂₈: C, 87.86; H,12.14.

Found: C, 87.59; H, 12.09.

EXAMPLE 11

Preparation of a E-α-Δ-Farnesene 6 Mixture from E-α,β-Farnesene

Prepared as described in example 9 from N-methyl-N-nitroso urea 1.35 Min THF (10 ml, 13.5 mmol), E-α,β-Farnesene (1 g, 5 mmol, purity Zα/β/Eα17:50:26, GC, rpa), aqueous KOH (2.5 ml, 40%) and Pd(OAc)₂ (3.3 mg,0.015 mmol, 0.3%) pre-dissolved in 0.75 ml THF. Work-up and bulb-to-bulbdistillation gives 0.76 g of a colorless liquid which containsE-fl-Farnesene 4 (46%), E-α-Δ-Farnesene 6 (39%) and 10% unconvertedfarnesenes. GC/MS: 218 (0.2%, M⁺), 203 (3%, [M-15]⁺), 175 (4%), 149(8%), 147 (9%), 133 (13%), 123 (50%), 121 (22%), 119 (15%), 107 (70%),105 (30%), 95 (35%), 93 (90%), 91 (57%), 81 (80%), 79 (55%), 77 (33%),69 (95%), 67 (27%), 55 (36%), 53 (21%), 41 (75%).

EXAMPLE 12

Ethyl 8-cyclopropyloctanoate 7

Prepared as described in example 4 from N-methyl-N-nitroso urea 1.35 Min THF (31 ml, 42 mmol), ethyl decenoate (5 g, 25 mmol), 40% aqueous KOH(10 ml) and palladium acetylacetonate (15 mg, 0.2%) pre-dissolved indichloromethane (1 ml). Work-up gives 4.5 g (88%) of crude ethyl8-cyclopropyloctanoate 7 as slightly yellow liquid.

Analytical data: ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 4.15 (q, 2H), 2.3 (t, 2H), 1.6(m, 2H), 1.3-1.5 (8H), 1.3 (t, 3H), 1.2 (dt, 2H), 0.65 (m, 1H), 0.4 (m,2H), 0.0 (m, 2H) ppm. ¹³C-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 134.5 (s), 131.2 (s),124.9 (d), 124.4 (d), 40.0 (t), 39.7 (t), 26.7 (t), 25.7 (q), 25.5 (t),20.3 (s), 17.6 (q), 15.9 (q), 14.3 (d), 9.2 (2C, t), 1.9 (2C, t) ppm.GC/MS: 212 (0.2%, M⁺), 197 (0.2%, [M-15]⁺), 169 (1%), 167 (2%), 166(3%), 149 (3%), 138 (8%), 124 (15%), 123 (8%), 110 (7%), 101 (37%), 96(30%), 73 (20%), 69 (30%), 67 (20%), 61 (15%), 60 (17%), 55 (100%), 41(50%). IR (film): 3076 (w), 2997 (w), 2923 (m), 2857 (m), 1735 (s), 1463(m), 1427 (w), 1372 (m), 1348 (w), 1301 (w), 1247 (w), 1175 (m) 1115(m), 1097 (m), 1035 (m), 1014 (m), 946 (w), 856 (w), 820 (w), 723 (w),629 (w).

EXAMPLE 13 3-Cyclopropyl-1-(spiro[4.5]dec-7-en-7-yl)propan-1-one and3-cyclopropyl-1-(spiro[4.5]dec-6-en-7-yl)propan-1-one 8

Prepared as described in example 4 from N-methyl-N-nitroso urea 1.35 Min THF (18 ml, 24 mmol), Spirogalbanone (3 g, 25 mmol, EP 913383,priority to Givaudan 29.10.1997), 40% aqueous KOH (10 ml) and palladiumacetylacetonate (8.4 mg, 0.2%) pre-dissolved in dichloromethane (0.5ml). Work-up gives 3.2 g (quant) of crude cyclopropane 8 as a slightlyyellow liquid. Purity: 98%, α/β-isomer ratio 58:42 (GC). Analyticaldata: ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 6.9 and 6.6 (1H, α- and β-isomer), 2.75(t, 2H), 2.25, 2.15 2.1 and 1.7 (4H), 1.3-1.7 (12H), 0.65 (1H), 0.35 (m,2H), 0.0 (2H) ppm. ¹³C-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 201.9 and 201.7 (2 s, CO),148.3 and 139.2 (2 d), 138.8 and 136.8 (2 s), 44.2 and 40.6 (2 s), 40.1,38.13, 37.2, 37.1, 35.4, 34.4, 32.85, 30.2, 30.1, 24.8, 24.65, 24.4,23.5, 20.1 (7×2 t), 10.7 (2 d), 4.55 and 4.5 (2 t) ppm. GC/MS (β-isomer,t_(R)=9.84 min): 232 (24%, M⁺), 217 (2%, [M-15]⁺), 204 (10%), 203 (13%),189 (11%), 177 (15%), 176 (54%), 175 (28%), 149 (13%), 148 (21%), 147(27%), 136 (10%), 135 (56%), 134 (24%), 133 (34%), 131 (12%), 121 (27%),120 (15%), 119 (21%), 117 (14%), 107 (43%), 105 (39%), 93 (100%), 91(98%), 81 (38%), 79 (78%), 77 (63%), 69 (18%), 67 (63%), 65 (24%), 55(71%), 53 (30%), 43 (18%), 41 (77%), 39 (29%). GC/MS (a-isomer,t_(R)=9.96 min): 232 (38%, M⁺), 217 (3%, [M-15]⁺), 204 (16%), 203 (25%),178 (8%), 175 (6%), 164 (12%), 163 (100%), 161 (9%), 147 (10%), 135(27%), 133 (19%), 121 (22%), 119 (14%), 117 (13%), 109 (18%), 107 (58%),105 (26%), 95 (37%), 93 (88%), 91 (73%), 81 (57%), 79 (79%), 77 (47%),69 (27%), 67 (80%), 65 (21%), 57 (10%), 55 (78%), 53 (62%), 43 (17%), 41(80%), 39 (30%), 29 (16%). IR (film): 3075 (w), 2998 (w), 2929 (m), 1664(s), 1636 (w), 1446 (w), 1379 (w), 1340 (w), 1271 (w), 1212 (w), 1189(m), 1103 (w), 1043 (w), 1013 (m), 942 (w), 819 (w), 753 (w), 697 (w).

EXAMPLE 14 1-cyclopropyl-3-methylbenzene 9

Prepared as described in example 4 from N-methyl-N-nitroso urea 1.35 Min THF (19 ml, 25.6 mmol), 1-methyl-3-vinylbenzene (2 g, 17 mmol), 40%aqueous KOH (10 ml) and palladium acetylacetonate (10.3 mg, 0.2%)pre-dissolved in dichloromethane (0.5 ml). Work-up gives 2.2 g (quant)of crude 1-cyclopropyl-3-methylbenzene 9 as a slightly yellow liquid.

Analytical data: ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 7.15 (dd, 1H), 6.95 (d, 1H),6.85 (2H), 2.3 (s, 3H), 1.85 (m, 1H), 0.9 (m, 2H), 0.65 (m, 2H) ppm.¹³C-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 143.9 (s), 137.8 (s), 128.2 (d), 126.5 (d),126.2 (d), 122.7 (d), 21.4 (q), 15.3 (d), 9.1 (2C, t) ppm. GC/MS: 132(40%, M⁺), 131 (17%), 118 (10%), 117 (100%), 116 (15%), 115 (44%), 105(8%), 103 (6%), 91 (28%), 77 (12%), 65 (12%), 63 (10%), 51 (11%), 39(16%). IR (film): 3081 (w), 3008 (m), 2919 (w), 1607 (m), 1589 (w), 1491(m), 1462 (m), 1430 (w), 1378 (w), 1242 (w), 1170 (w), 1090 (w), 1044(m), 1018 (m), 924 (m), 865 (w), 812 (m), 774 (s), 696 (s).

EXAMPLE 15 (E)-2-methyl-6-methylenenona-2,7-diene 10 (E-homomyrcene)

Methacrylonitrile (1.3 g, 19 mmol) and Wilkinson's catalyst RhCl(PPh₃)₃(0.3 g, 0.3 mmol) are added to Δ-myrcene 1 (1 g, 6.7 mmol) in toluene(15 ml) under nitrogen and stirring. The mixture is heated 22 h atreflux, cooled to 25° C. and filtered over silicagel. After addition ofwater (50 ml) and phase separation the aqueous phase is extracted withtoluene. The combined organic layers are dried over NaSO₄, filtered andconcentrated under reduced pressure to give 1.25 g of a clear liquid.GCMS reveals 63% E-Homomyrcene 10, 26% isomers (M 150) and 11%Diels-Alder adducts 11. Bulb-to-bulb distillation at 40° C./0.1 mbargives 0.22 g (22%) of E-homomyrcene 10 and 0.55 g of a residue. Theanalytical data of E-Homomyrcene 10 and of the Diels-Alder adducts 11were identical with the ones described in the literature (Tetrahedron65, 10495, 2009 and references therein).

EXAMPLE 151-((1SR,2RS)-1,2-dimethyl-4-(4-methylpent-3-en-1-yl)cyclohex-3-en-1-yl)ethanone12 (pseudo-Georgywood)

3-Methylbutan-2-one (3.7 g, 13 mmol) and Wilkinson's catalystRhCl(PPh₃)₃ (0.6 g, 0.7 mmol) are added to Δ-myrcene 1 (2 g, 13.3 mmol)in toluene (30 ml) under nitrogen and stirring. The mixture is heated 41h at reflux, cooled to 25° C. and filtered over silicagel. Afteraddition of water (50 ml) and phase separation the aqueous phase isextracted with toluene. The combined organic layers are dried overNaSO₄, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 2.7 g ofa clear liquid. Bulb-to-bulb distillation at 100-160° C./0.05 mbar gives1.31 g (42%) of a 3:1 isomer mixture containing Georgywood 12 as mainproduct, whose analytical data were identical with the ones described inthe literature, see for example Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 15, 3967 (2004).

EXAMPLE 16

Preparation of Δ-Myrcenol 13

Prepared as described in example 4 from N-methyl-N-nitroso urea 1.35 Min THF (72 ml, 97 mmol), myrcenol (10 g, 65 mmol, Chemistry Letters 15,157-160, 1986 and references therein), aqueous KOH (32 ml, 40%) andPd(acac)₂ (20 mg, 0.065 mmol, 0.2%) pre-dissolved in 2.6 ml THF. After 1h at 0° C. quantitative conversion is detected by GC. Work-up gives 10.7g of crude 13 as a yellowish oil which is purified by flashchromatography over silica gel with eluent hexane/tert-butyl methylether 1:1. Evaporation of the solvents gives 9.45 g (87%) of 13 as acolorless oil. 4.2 g of this material were further purified bybulb-to-bulb distillation at 60° C./0.03 mbar and gave 4 g ofolfactorily pure Δ-Myrcenol 13. Olfactory profile: floral, rosy,slightly aldehydic. Purity: 96%. According to NMR and GC this materialcontains 4% of Δ₂-Myrcenol 14.

Analytical Data of 13: ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 4.6 (m, 2H), 2.05 (m,2H), 1.6 (m, 2H), 1.5 (m, 2H), 1.3 (m, 2H), 1.2 (6H, s), 0.65 (m, 2H),0.43 (m, 2H) ppm. ¹³C-NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz): 150.9 (s), 106.05 (t), 71.0(s), 43.6 (t), 36.5 (t), 29.25 (q), 22.85 (t), 15.93 (d), 6.1 (t).GC/MS: 150 (8%, [M-18]⁺), 135 (15%, [M-18-15]⁺), 122 (2%), 121 (4%), 109(11%), 107 (24%), 95 (25%), 94 (41%), 93 (19%), 91 (8%), 82 (18%), 79(100%), 77 (10%), 69 (14%), 67 (41%), 59 (60%), 43 (28%), 41 (27%).

GCMS of Δ₂-Myrcenol 14: 149 (16%, [M-18-15]⁺), 135 (10%), 121 (31%), 109(22%), 108 (30%), 107 (24%), 95 (20%), 94 (15%), 93 (88%), 91 (18%), 81(42%), 80 (58%), 79 (100%), 77 (10%), 69 (24%), 67 (44%), 59 (67%), 43(34%), 41 (49%).

EXAMPLE 17

Preparation of Toscanol 16

Pd(acac)₂ (0.15 g, 0.5 mmol, 0.05 mol %) is added at 0-5° C. to astirred (300 rpm) mixture of estragol (148 g, 1 mol) in toluene (1 l)and 40% aqueous KOH (0.5 I). Nitroso-EMU 1.63 M in toluene (1.25 1, 2mol, prepared as described in example 3) is added at 0-5° C. over 6 h.The bright yellow reaction mixture is stirred for another hour at 0-5°C., then 17 h at room temperature. GC-analysis shows a quantitativeconversion to Toscanol. The organic phase is separated and the aqueousphase extracted with toluene (1 l). The organic phases are washed withwater (1 l), 10% acetic acid (1 l), water (1 l), 10% NaOH (1 l) andwater (×1 l). Both organic phases are combined, dried over MgSO₄,filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The remaining yellowoil (173.7 g) is short-path-distilled at 70-150° C./0.07 mbar giving 159g (98% corr) of Toscanol 16 with a purity of 84-100% (over allfractions). The NMR data are identical with the ones reported in theliterature for this compound, e.g. in S.-K. Tiana et al., Adv. Synth. &Cat. 353, 1980-1984 (2011). GCMS of Toscanol 16: 162 (22%, M⁺), 147(8%), 134 (23%), 121 (100%), 119 (11%), 91 (18%), 78 (8%), 77 (10%), 65(7%).

1. A process of ring formation across a carbon-carbon multiple bond, theprocess comprising reacting a N-methyl-N-nitroso compound with asubstrate bearing a carbon-carbon multiple bond, wherein theN-methyl-N-nitroso compound has been generated in-situ, and thegenerated N-methyl-N-nitroso compound is reacted with the substrate viain-situ-generated diazomethane, without being first isolated.
 2. Theprocess according to claim 1, wherein the N-methyl-N-nitroso compound isan organic solution of N-methyl-N-nitroso urea, and wherein theN-methyl-N-nitroso urea is reacted with the substrate without beingfirst isolated in solid form.
 3. The process according to claim 1,wherein the N-methyl-N-nitroso compound is selected from the groupconsisting of N-methyl-N-nitroso-urea (MNU),N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide, N-nitroso-dimethylurethane,nitroso-EMU and N-nitroso-β-methylaminoisobutyl methyl ketone (NMK). 4.The process according to claim 1, wherein the N-methyl-N-nitrosocompound is generated in-situ from a mixture of a HNRR′ compound, water,NaNO₂ and an acid, before partitioning into an organic solvent to forman organic solution of N-methyl-N-nitroso compound.
 5. The processaccording to claim 4 wherein the N-methyl-N-nitroso compound is formedin-situ from a N-methylamine.
 6. The process according to claim 1,wherein the N-methyl-N-nitroso compound is reacted with the substratebearing a carbon-carbon multiple bond via the diazomethane in thepresence of an aqueous base and a catalyst.
 7. The process according toclaim 6, wherein the aqueous base is selected from the group consistingof alkali hydroxides.
 8. The process according to claim 6, wherein thecatalyst is a transition metal catalyst, optionally a palladiumcatalyst, further optionally Pd(acac)₂, Pd(OAc)₂ or PdCl₂ catalysts. 9.The process according to claim 1, wherein a biphasic mixture is formedwith the N-methyl-N-nitroso compound in an organic layer.
 10. Theprocess according to claim 1, wherein the N-methyl-N-nitroso compound inliquid phase is separated from an aqueous phase in a phase separationstep, before being reacted with the substrate bearing a carbon-carbonmultiple bond.
 11. The process according to claim 1, wherein theN-methyl-N-nitroso compound has been generated in a liquid phasecomprising an organic solvent for the N-methyl-N-nitroso compound thatis selected from the group consisting of ethers and toluene.
 12. Theprocess according to claim 11 wherein the ether is selected from thegroup consisting of tetrahydrofurane, dimethoxyethane, dioxane anddimethylisosorbide.
 13. The process according to claim 1, which isconducted in flow mode.
 14. The process according to claim 1, whereinthe substrate bearing a carbon-carbon multiple bond is a terminal(monosubstituted) alkene.
 15. The process according to claim 14, whereinthe substrates are isoprenoids.
 16. The process according to claim 1,wherein the substrate bearing a carbon-carbon multiple bond is acompound of the formulae

wherein R¹ and R² may, independently of each other, be hydrogen, alkyl,alkylidene, or aryl, which may be branched or unbranched and substitutedor unsubstituted; and R³ may be an alkyl, alkylidene, or aryl, which maybe branched or unbranched and substituted or unsubstituted.
 17. Theprocess according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is myrcene, ocimene,farnesene or a higher polyprenoid, wherein the substrate becomes a mono-or bis-cyclopropanated derivative at the terminal isoprene unitwith >70% selectivity.
 18. The process according to claim 17, yielding amyrcene, ocimene, farnesene or higher polyprenoid derivative which ismono- or bis-cyclopropanated at the terminal isoprene unit with >80%selectivity.
 19. The process according to claim 17, yielding a myrcene,ocimene, farnesene or higher polyprenoid derivative which is mono- orbis-cyclopropanated at the terminal isoprene unit with >90% selectivity.20. A process of converting a carbon-carbon double bond to acyclopropane ring comprising: I) synthesis of a N-methyl-N-nitrosocompound in liquid phase, II) separation of an organicN-methyl-N-nitroso compound-containing liquid phase from an aqueousphase, and III) transferring the N-methyl-N-nitroso compound in theorganic liquid phase into a mixture comprising an alkene substrate,thereby to cyclopropanate the alkene substrate.
 21. The processaccording to claim 20, wherein the mixture further comprises aqueousbase and catalyst.
 22. The process according to claim 20, wherein thesubstrate is myrcene, ocimene, farnesene or a higher polyprenoid,yielding a mono- or bis-cyclopropanated derivative at the terminalisoprene unit with >70% selectivity.
 23. The process according to claim22, yielding a myrcene, ocimene, farnesene or higher polyprenoidderivative which is mono- or bis-cyclopropanated at the terminalisoprene unit with >80% selectivity.
 24. The process according to claim22, yielding a myrcene, ocimene, famesene or higher polyprenoidderivative which is mono- or bis-cyclopropanated at the terminalisoprene unit with >90% selectivity.
 25. The process according to claim20, wherein the substrate is ethyl decenoate, yielding ethyl8-cyclopropyloctanoate.
 26. The process according to claim 20, whereinthe substrate is 1-spiro(4.5)-7-decen-7-yl)-4-penten-1-one and1-spiro(4.5)-6-decen-7-yl)-4-penten-1-one, yielding3-cyclopropyl-1-(spiro[4.5]dec-7-en-7-yl)propan-1-one and3-cyclopropyl-1-(spiro[4.5]dec-6-en-7-yl) propan-1-one.
 27. The processaccording to claim 20, wherein the substrate is 1-methyl-3-vinylbenzene,yielding 1-cyclopropyl-3-methylbenzene.
 28. The process according toclaim 20, wherein the substrate is estragol, yielding1-cyclopropylmethyl-4-methoxybenzene.